Black Caps drop Dean Brownlie for Franklin

RECALL: Wellington allrounder James Franklin is back in the Black Caps for the tour of India.

One under-achiever has replaced another, as the deck chairs get shuffled within the New Zealand cricket team.

Wellington allrounder James Franklin comes into the 15-man squad for the team's two tests in India, at the expense of Dean Brownlie.

Franklin, whose first incarnation as a Black Cap was as an out-and-out bowler, has been re-cast in the role of middle order batsman for the tests at Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

One of the most prolific batsmen on the domestic circuit, Franklin has never seriously threatened to translate that ability into runs at test level, where he averages 21. But he gets his chance – again – at the expense of Brownlie, who had a miserable tour of the West Indies.

The other change to the 15-man squad, which were beaten 2-0 by the Windies, comes in the spin bowling department, where Franklin's Wellington team-mate Jeetan Patel comes in for the injured Daniel Vettori.

Patel has not appeared at test level since New Zealand's tour to Zimbabwe in November last year, but had another decent season for Wellington and has been playing county cricket in England for Warwickshire.

Indian-born legspinner Tarun Nethula is the other slow bowler in the New Zealand side, who will be coached for the first time by Mike Hesson.